“As a leading public research and flagship university, we have the responsibility to our campus community, the state we serve and society at large to commit to actions that will lead to a more sustainable future."
—University of Utah President Taylor Randall, who renewed the Commitment in 2021

As climate change continues to cause and intensify both local and global challenges, the University of Utah is choosing to act boldly and leverage its collective impact as an institution. As a signatory to the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments, the U has pledged to provide knowledge, research, practice, and informed graduates to create a positive and sustainable future. This includes working toward carbon neutrality and building resilience to climate impacts.

In 2010, the University of Utah completed its first Climate Action Plan. Since that time, great progress has been made and much has changed. Climate change worsens existing problems globally and locally. Hot summers become hotter, droughts threaten water supply and fuel wildfires, and historically marginalized members of our community experience these consequences most intensely. With this in mind, the University of Utah is creating a new Climate Change Action Plan.

Thank you to everyone who completed the online survey and attended our in-person and virtual roundtables. We value and appreciate your input! Stay tuned for more information about what we heard from the community throughout this process. 

Our new plan will map out the university's response to climate change, including ways we can:

1. REDUCE greenhouse gas emissions from university operations
2. PREPARE for the current and future impacts of climate change
3. EDUCATE graduates with skills and knowledge to work toward a sustainable future
4. RESEARCH effects of and solutions to climate change

In 2020, the University of Utah launched its first Climate Resilience Assessment, which examines the institution’s ability to respond to climate threats in the following categories: Social Equity & Governance, Health & Wellness,
Ecosystem Services, Infrastructure, and Economics.

This assessment, which was completed on June 29, 2021, is an essential first step in preparing and planning for future climate impacts.

• Assessment
• Resilience Matrix